Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

He couldn’t help but exclaim in shock, ”The Tianyuan Daoist Sect attacking on all fronts, dispersing their forces—this is indeed a fatal flaw in military strategy!”

However, the Purple Robe Marquis had a different view, saying with admiration, ”Isn’t this an audacious move that overwhelms the world? Besides, they have the strength and have encountered the rarest opportunity of a millennium!”

Luo Chen opened his mouth but ultimately had nothing more to say.

Because what the Purple Robe Marquis said wasn’t wrong either.

With the fall of Yuan Mo and Mingyuan, the North Sea and Eastern Wasteland were leaderless, the Hanging Temple and Gate of Life and Death closed their doors in succession, leading to the West Desert and South Border being without leadership.

In such a scenario, if the Tianyuan Daoist Sect could seize the opportunity, even if one or two battles ended in defeat, the overall gains would far exceed imagination.

The most important part is: the move has been made!

Luo Chen shook his head, no longer focusing on the global trends, and began reading through things related to him.

”The Demon Heart Gu Emperor has disappeared for hundreds of years, never showing up. People rumored that he was devoured by the Demon Gu and died.”

”If he is not dead, according to the heaven-defying effects of the Demon Heart Gu accelerating cultivation, after hundreds of years, the Demon Heart Gu Emperor must have advanced to the Late Stage Nascent Soul, surely ranking among the Great Cultivators.”

”Such a powerful figure, if he continued his cultivation, must have a High Order Spirit Vein to match.”

”The number of High Order Spirit Veins in the South Border has been explored over millennia and they all have masters. Therefore, if the Demon Heart Gu Emperor still exists in the world, he must be one of the Spirit Vein masters.”

”Moreover, the number of South Border Great Cultivators occupying the High Order Spirit Veins, not counting the hidden strengths of the Gate of Life and Death, are as follows—True Master Songyang, Granny Hong Ye, Burial Elder, Luo Sect Taishang, Xuanji Fairy...”

Master Li Tian’s method of searching for traces of the Demon Heart Gu Emperor for Luo Chen was actually very simple.

It’s just an elimination method!

Just as mortals need to drink and eat to stay alive, Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators need a High Order Spirit Vein matching their realm to aid their pursuit of the Dao of God Transformation.

And the number of High Order Spirit Veins in the South Border is limited; anyone occupying them must be a regional master.

If the Demon Heart Gu Emperor does not want his cultivation to be delayed, he must inevitably blend in.

This greatly narrows down the range of suspected targets.

And this was Luo Chen’s first direct understanding of the group of South Border Great Cultivators.

”They’re not inferior to the peak times of the Great Sects in the Eastern Wasteland!”

Indeed, it might be said they’re not just on par but rather significantly superior.

At its peak, the number of Great Cultivators in the Eastern Wasteland was openly five, namely the East Sun Sect Supreme, Tiandu Sect Tian Douzi, Tianji Zen Sect Monk Hui Ping, Hehuan Sect Old Ancestor, and Five Elements Divine Sect’s True Master Shenyuan.

Whereas, now the number of Great Cultivators in the South Border reaches up to eight!

Just within the Evil Mountain Zombie Alliance, they’ve gathered four people.

This also shows that the South Border’s reliance on Gu insect assistance in cultivation does indeed have a certain miraculous effect.

But there is also an awkward aspect: in the recent two to three hundred years, there have been no new Post-Nascent Cultivators.

Unlike the North Sea, where the Moon Independent Cultivator emerges, and the Eastern Wasteland, where Jiuling Yuanjun appears as new Great Cultivators.

”No wonder for the South Border cultivators, it’s just that the changes in this world.”

Luo Chen found an excuse for them and then, based on the intelligence provided by Master Li Tian, began to focus on the seven or eight individuals, carefully analyzing which one might be the Demon Heart Gu Emperor.

First, he excluded Granny Hong Ye and Xuanji Fairy.

Because the legends say the Demon Heart Gu Emperor was a male cultivator.

Among the remaining six, True Master Songyang could be excluded because the Songshan Sect’s legacy has never been interrupted, and True Master Songyang became a renowned figure in his youth, making impersonation impossible.

”The remaining five...”

Luo Chen’s eyes squinted slightly.

He had to acknowledge that Master Ming Lei’s suspicions before leaving had a foundation.

Burial Elder was indeed suspicious, as Burial Valley has few connections with the outside world, and Burial Elder’s actions are quite mysterious and strange.

Luo Sect Taishang was also within the range of suspicion. Ever since the chaos within Luo Sect, Luo Sect Taishang has remained in seclusion, never showing any trace.

It’s said he was injured?

But what kind of injuries would take hundreds of years to heal?

Even for significant matters like the collective attack on the Gate of Life and Death by South Border cultivators, he showed no interest, not appearing at all.

Beside him, the Purple Robe Marquis’ puzzled voice arose.

”Speaking of which, why is Friend Qi so fervent in seeking out the Demon Heart Gu Emperor?”

Luo Chen answered naturally, ”Simply to find another path.”

The Purple Robe Marquis didn’t comprehend.

Luo Chen pointed to his own body, ”Although I have made impressive achievements in Body Refinement, the Path of Body Refinement has long declined, and the future is uncertain. Moreover, Body Refiners have a much shorter lifespan compared to Nascent Soul True Masters; if I don’t want to face the regret of death at the end of my days, I must find a way to re-cultivate.”

The Purple Robe Marquis hesitated and asked, ”Do you plan to use the Demon Heart Gu to switch to the Path of Qi Refinement?”

”Indeed!” Luo Chen replied calmly, ”The principle of the Demon Heart Gu accelerating cultivation is orthodox Spirit Refinement Qi Transformation. I possess a vast Essence Qi that no one can match, forever indissoluble. If aided by a High-level Demon Heart Gu, it could forcibly transform my vast Essence Qi, impacting the Nascent Soul Realm, thus prolonging my life by hundreds of years.”

”This, this...” The Purple Robe Marquis didn’t expect such an answer. It was reasonable yet startling.

Who would, after mastering Body Refinement, opt for an extreme transformation to another path?

Albeit some Nascent Soul True Masters dabble in Body Refinement techniques, they only practice them concurrently, not undergoing extreme transformations.

Under similar reasoning, Friend Qi’s idea of placing himself in a death-defying situation for rebirth is shocking yet evokes admiration.

”That’s indeed impressive!”

The Purple Robe Marquis sighed and then advised, ”Now that you have obtained the ’Hundred Poison Body Refining Technique’, the path forward isn’t necessarily hopeless. The Demon Heart Gu, being too convenient, easily leads to the loss of sanity; unless absolutely necessary, I advise cherishing the Dao Cultivation you have.”

Luo Chen nodded, ”Friend Qi understands.”

...

”Did he say it like that?”

”Absolutely, and his expression did not seem to be feigned.”

”Who would have thought that the seemingly unstoppable Friend Qi would have such detailed foresight?”

Inside an oppressive Gu Refining Room, Master Li Tian turned away from the front of a miniature pavilion.

The Purple Robe Marquis looked at the familiar pavilion while saying, ”Fear of death is natural, but daring to abandon the old path for an extreme transformation is still commendable.”

Master Li Tian chuckled, ”Well, I still hope that day won’t come. After all, to enter the Yin Yang Residual Realm, we still have to rely on Friend Qi’s Horizontal Refining Skills.”

As he said this, he beckoned from the rear.

Immediately, several streaks of light flew out from inside the pavilion.

”Take it to him. I guess because of his slow progress with the ’Hundred Poison Body Refining Technique’, his thoughts became so extreme.”

”What’s this?” The Purple Robe Marquis looked at the sealed Gu insects with curiosity.

Master Li Tian explained, ”These are the three Fourth-Tier Poison Gu that I have cherished. If Friend Qi can refine and feed them to the Hundred Poison King Gu, it would be enough for it to rise to the fourth tier, thereby enabling the Path of Body Refinement to further improve.”

”You’re being quite generous!” The Purple Robe Marquis was somewhat envious as he accepted the three Gu insects.

Master Li Tian sighed, ”With significant matters at hand, the Yin Yang Residual Realm involves not only the Gu Formula I need but also how to unlock the Gate of Life and Death; I cannot afford to be slack.”

The Purple Robe Marquis nodded, ”Does Friend Qi need to provide any corresponding resources?”

”He has a sense of what needs to be given, just ensure it’s in the right ballpark, then you can accept it on my behalf!”

The Purple Robe Marquis then asked, ”Regarding the Blood Transformation Gu I require, how’s the progress?”

Master Li Tian seemed ready for this, answering methodically, ”Based on the materials you provided and the cultivation technique of the Blood Sea Lineage from the North Sea Primordial Demon Sect, I’ve already created a preliminary Gu Formula. Once in the Yin Yang Residual Realm, I should be able to refine the Blood Transformation Gu for you.”

The Purple Robe Marquis was immediately relieved.

With the Blood Transformation Gu, perhaps he could emulate the strength of the Yuan Mo Sect’s Xue Hai Lineage and create his own Blood God Children.

Moreover, this method could potentially help him evade the cosmic alterations and gradually cultivate to the Late Stage Nascent Soul.

Before leaving, he couldn’t help but look back at the small pavilion Master Li Tian was working on.

Musing internally.

”Why does it look so much like the Wind-Ripple Pavilion at the entrance of Mi Realm Mountain?”